Team USA Women’s World Cup 5-2 victory over Japan drew an estimated 22.8 million viewers, shattering television ratings records for a soccer game in the United States.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
And, in interviews leading up to the game, moms of the soccer players often told commentators that their daughter had been dreaming of playing in a World Cup final since they were little girls.
World Cup has focused more attention on women’s soccer, but the number of boys playing the game still far outnumbers girls’ participation, said Altin Ndrita, of the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club.
Ndrita hopes a free program offered on Saturday mornings this summer can help to begin to change that.
The program is geared toward teaching girls, between the ages of 5 and 7, the fundamentals of the game. The sessions are from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road.
Ndrita, a former professional soccer player, leads the sessions.
“We try to make it fun. We try to make it enjoyable for them. And, at the same time, teach them fundamental skills that will make them successful later on,” he said.
“When you don’t know what the game is, you might have a wrong perception, and you think you don’t like it,” he said.
Ndrita teaches the girls skills such as dribbling, passing, changing direction and shooting.
But, he uses a series of age-appropriate games to help the girls learn the fundamentals, while still having fun.
For example, he teaches the girls how to keep the ball moving, while keeping it under close control, in a game he calls Park Ranger.
Ndrita believes in encouraging the girls to take an interest in the sport.
“All of them, at this age — as long as they are athletic, they are promising prospects. We can add the skills that they need. We can complete them,” he said.
The pace is active, but Ndrita gives the girls frequent water and rest breaks.
There’s no stress involved. Players come to the session if they can.
So far, about 30 different girls have shown up. Some have come back every week. Others haven’t.
The program gets high marks from parents.
Kristen Leonard said her 7-year-old daughter, Kayla, loves the sessions.
“She’s getting to play with girls. That’s really important to us. A lot of the programs around here are coed. We want her to play with girls,” she said.
Leonard said her older daughter, Emily, has played on coed teams, and she has observed that girls can be treated differently by their male counterparts.
“We noticed with her (Emily’s teams), sometimes the boys don’t want to pass to the girls. Or they don’t realize that girls can play. They underestimate their skills.
“That would frustrate her a lot.
“I think from a confidence standpoint, it’s important that they (girls) get to play with girls,” Leonard said.
Emily Leonard, who was there with her mom, said that coaches sometimes underestimate girls, too — choosing to leave them on the bench more often, or to sub them out more frequently than the boys.
Leanne Henderson, of Wesley Chapel, is pleased that her 7-year-old daughter, Kate, is taking advantage of the opportunity.
“I started when I was this age. It just became my life,” said Henderson, who attended college on a soccer scholarship in Mississippi. “It’s a great sport.”
Eight-year-old Nadia Gonzalez and her 6-year-old sister, Neleia, wanted to try out a new sport, so came to the first free session, said their mom, Ginger Gonzalez, of Wesley Chapel.
“We came out, and they absolutely fell in love with it,” she said. They liked it so much, they signed up for a soccer camp, too.
Two dads were also out watching their daughters at the session.
Kevin Sowles said his daughter, Lexi, is learning skills he didn’t learn until he was 14 or 15.
“These are the girls that want to be here. These girls are really focused, and they’re listening, and they’re really engaged,” he said.
Robert Licciardello, whose daughter Olivia, was on the field, agreed.
“They get good training. They get the basics down, first.
“I love it,” Licciardello said.
Ndrita said the whole idea is to give girls a chance to find out what soccer is all about.
He doesn’t care what program they join, but he hopes they’ll keep playing.
“As long as they play soccer, that is our goal. As long as they know the game is beautiful,” he said.
Soccer training for girls
What: Wesley Chapel Soccer Club is offering free soccer lessons on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Why: To give girls a chance to learn about soccer.
Who: The program is for girls, age 5 through age 7
Where: Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel
How much: Free
For information, visit WesleyChapelSC.com.
Published July 22, 2015
